Software Localization Made Easy

Software localization made easy

Launching software products into multiple international markets simultaneously in local language can be a real challenge.

Software localization is typically very intensive and time-consuming for all the teams involved. During localization, software products are often modified to meet the linguistic, cultural and technical requirements of each target market. But it can be very challenging to localize elements of a graphical user interface (GUI) such as dialog boxes, menus and display texts, without a visual display to work from.

SDL Passolo is designed to meet the specific demands of the software localization industry. By accessing a visual translation environment, the localization process is made much faster while the quality of the output is improved. SDL Passolo integrates with all translation tools in the SDL suite, boosting your efficiency every step of the way.

Effortless project management

With powerful project management capabilities, you’ll find it easy to stay on top of your multilingual software localization projects.

Project preparation simplifies communication between the software manufacturer and the translators. The localization manager can work together with the developers and add files requiring localization to the project.

Language Product Brief | SDL Passolo 2015 2

When a project is created, SDL Passolo saves the source text in a multilingual project database along with its SDL Passolo gives you translations, modified layouts, comments about the files and any other data. Multiple users can work on the same project simultaneously in Multi-User mode, while external All the tools you need for efficient software translators can download a free version of the software localization including project management, and edit translation packages created in the full version. translation and testing – all in one place.

If there are updates to software versions, the Update function will compare the content of the new software Seamless integration with the industry leading files with the project database, transferring new and translation software including SDL Trados modified text into the project. All existing translations Studio, SDL MultiTerm and SDL translation and layout remain untouched, as the translator only management systems. needs to process the updated text. This project-based method saves considerable time and translation costs compared to traditional translation memory software. Powerful productivity features for translators Using the Alignment function you can automatically including graphical visualization of standard PC import previous translations and layout adjustments from applications for fast, quality translations. the translated software files into the project database. Future software updates can then be localized from the translations that have already been delivered. Embedded software capabilities for easy localization of graphical user interfaces of Internationalization-ready projects consumer electronics, engineering machines, Before starting the localization process, it’s important smartphones and more. to ensure that software can be localized in an easy way. Pseudo-Translation allows developers to test the software and prevent globalization errors such as hard-coded texts, reducing correction costs at an early stage. Rich support for a large number of software specific file formats, including executable programs, resource files, XML-based files and mobile app formats.

Support for agile development processes with incremental changes to software, which are easily passed through to localization teams.

Easy integration with software production on build servers.

Powerful customization capabilities through an integrated scripting engine and optional software development kit (SDK).

Used by thousands of organizations and supported by dedicated experienced professionals. Product Brief | SDL Passolo 2015 3

Leveraging your existing Translating software in embedded systems Consumer electronics, medical devices, smartphones and translation assets display panels on machines all have graphical software interfaces. SDL Passolo facilitates localization by means Reusing data from existing translation memories and of special testing and display functions, which allow terminology databases can instantly speed up the translators to see whether the translated text fits in the translation process. SDL Passolo features an internal limited area of the screen. These functions significantly Translation Memory (TM), enriched by the Concordance reduce the time and effort spent on testing and making Search and Fuzzy Matching features. TMs can be used for corrections. automatic pre-translation and interactive translation of individual text entries. In addition to the visual localization environment, SDL Passolo features a wide range of functions to boost Simple text glossaries can be also used to highlight translators’ productivity including: terminology and to ensure that the correct terms are applied for every translation. • The Auto-Propagation feature: Translate repeating text entries and inserts unique access keys, reducing your translations costs. • QuickIndex: Find sub-segment matches and transfer these translations across the project. Short texts Because SDL Passolo that have already been translated are highlighted in longer text entries. This increases the consistency of integrates with other translation the translation. solutions in the SDL suite – • Savable Filters: Filters that can be saved as well as SDL Trados Studio, SDL MultiTerm, the Find, Replace, Sort and Group functions facilitate SDL GroupShare, SDL WorldServer navigation in large projects and make it easier to find and SDL TMS - you can use specific text entries. translations and terminology • Inline Patterns: Regular expressions can be used effectively throughout. to ensure that freely selectable texts (e.g. special placeholders) are protected in the translator’s editing field and are not taken into account in the statistics.

Faster translation with machine translation SDL Passolo offers seamless integration with the SDL Increased translation productivity Language Cloud, Google Translate and Microsoft Translator. The SDL Language Cloud enables translators SDL Passolo enables translators to work in an intuitive to leverage high-quality machine translation (MT) editing environment for maximum translation quality. services directly within Passolo’s editing environment. The “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) editor In addition to generic machine translation services, displays software menus and dialog boxes in the same when using the SDL Language Cloud, users can access way as when the software is running. Users are able to industry-specific machine translation engines such as work out the meaning of text much easier and faster IT, travel, automotive and more, or personalize the MT when displayed in its graphical context, rather than in a output with their terms and brands for an even better simple list. quality output.

Using the dialog box editor, control elements can be moved and changed in size. Test functions help to ensure that access keys are uniquely assigned as well as to find truncated texts and overlapping control elements. Visual localization can be implemented on all file formats that save the static layout information (Windows, .NET, WPF, HTML). Product Brief | SDL Passolo 2015 4

Extensive quality tests Instead of using special server software, SDL Passolo employs a freely selectable FTP server, which is Translators and localization managers can take advantage used to automatically manage the files required for of the wide range of testing functionality in the market. synchronization. This process lowers IT costs and reduces Built-in quality assurance monitors every text entry and the amount of time spent on administrative tasks. highlights any errors. Tests can be carried out on selected sections of text or even the entire project. Localization managers are able to configure the synchronization settings directly within the SDL Passolo • User interface tests find truncated texts, overlapping user interface, which allows the Collaboration Edition control elements and missing or inconsistent access to be used by both the software manufacturer and the keys for example. commissioned translation agencies. • Depending on the programming language used, placeholders are checked for correct usage. User- Tracking changes defined placeholders can be found and checked with The complete change history of all localized text is Inline Patterns. displayed, allowing users to restore each text to one of its • Technical consistency checks find missing previous forms if need be. translations, monitor the correct usage of tab and space characters and indicate whether incorrect Automation and customization characters have been used in the target code. • Linguistic consistency checks monitor the correct All full-featured versions of SDL Passolo can be usage of specified terminology, find prohibited words automated via the command line and therefore can be in the translation and inconsistencies across the integrated into a build server environment for software reoccurring text entries. When using SDL MultiTerm, production. The COM object model and the integrated rich terminology information can be used to check development environment allow for the automation of for forbidden terms as well as display metadata to recurring tasks or complete integration with external help translators make the right terminology choices. systems. The SDL Passolo software development kit (SDK) • If Microsoft Word is installed on the computer, SDL provided users the ability to develop their own add-ins Passolo can use the program’s spell check feature to for example, to localize user-defined file formats with ensure that incorrectly spelled words are marked up. simultaneous display of the software interface.

In addition, you can find useful add-ins for SDL Passolo on SDL OpenExchange, the online app store and developer hub for SDL Language Solutions. Download add-ins from OpenExchange to extend your Passolo functionality, or integrate with third-party systems. Examples of existing customizations are:

• RIGI, a customized solution built on top of Passolo for visually localizing dynamic websites or any other content that is rendered on-the-fly • Support for Qt, a multi-platform GUI framework Supporting agile development • Acrolinx for validating and ensuring the target processes language quality of your software strings.

Agile development processes such as Scrum are supported within the program. New or modified software For more information on available add-ins for modules are often prepared in a relatively short period SDL Passolo, visit www.sdl.com/openexchange of time by the development team, which means new or updated texts need to be translated. To keep projects To find out more about how SDL Passolo up-to-date and to reduce the workload on localization can solve your software localization needs, managers and translators, the Passolo Collaboration visit www.sdl.com/passolo Edition features an easy-to-use Synchronization function, allowing the import of the latest translations. Product Brief | SDL Passolo 2015 5

SDL Passolo Editions

Supported file formats The various editions of SDL Passolo ensure that there is a cost-effective solution available for a wide range of SDL Passolo supports a wide range of software file applications and workflows. formats, including executable Windows programs (EXE, DLL), resource files (RC), Microsoft .NET Professional edition assemblies including WPF and Silverlight, resource The single-user version to be used on build servers, files (RESX), Delphi binary files, Java resources in development teams or by localization engineers. (PROPERTIES, JAVA, CLASS) and Java projects (JAR, If translation agencies are using their own version of WAR), VB6 (FRM, VBP), Qt (TS), Portable Object SDL Passolo, the localization manager is able to export files (PO), JSON and RESJSON, Microsoft installers translation packages (partial projects) for the translation (MSI, ISM), XML, XLIFF, HTML, CHM, text files, Excel, agencies. databases via ODBC and mobile software (iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile). Team edition The single-user version to be used by localization Please refer to the SDL Passolo File Formats managers. Translation packages created using the Team document for a detailed list of all supported file Edition can be edited using the free Translator Edition. formats. This means that entire projects can be sent to external translators using only one Team Edition license, which also includes the modification and testing of dialog boxes.

System requirements Collaboration edition A single-user version that shares the same functionality SDL Passolo runs on Microsoft Windows 7 and as the Team Edition, but translation packages can also be Windows 8 as well as on Microsoft Windows Server automatically synchronized with translation agencies and 2008 and Microsoft Windows Server 2012 operating translators via an FTP server. systems. Minimum recommended hardware: PC with a Pentium IV processor, 1 GB RAM and a screen Translator edition resolution of 1280x1024. A free editing environment for translation packages For optimal performance, we recommend 4 GB that have been created using the Team Edition or RAM and one of the latest Intel processors or any Collaboration Edition. It contains all translation and compatible processors. production functions, visual localization and tight integration with all SDL translation solutions. The Translator Edition doesn’t include project management functions for analyzing source files or creating target files.

Supported languages SDL Passolo supports all languages carried by Microsoft Windows via the Unicode standards. This includes Eastern European, Asian and bidirectional languages (Arabic and Hebrew), as well as Indic languages.

SDL (LSE: SDL) allows companies to optimize their customers’ experience across the entire buyer journey. Through its web content management, analytics, social intelligence, campaign management and translation services, SDL helps organizations leverage data-driven insights to understand what their customers want, orchestrate relevant content and communications, and deliver engaging and contextual experiences across languages, cultures, channels and devices.

For more information, visit www.sdl.com SDL has over 1,500 enterprise customers, over 400 partners and a global infrastructure of 70 offices in 38 countries. We also work with 72 of the top 100 global brands.